Houston, prepare for paid parking at the new-look Memorial Park

Houston, prepare for paid parking at the new-look Memorial Park

Houston golfers, joggers, and anyone who enjoys the outdoor life may soon have to pay to play at Memorial Park. Visitors can expect City of Houston metered parking in certain park areas.

“The general plan is to have one-quarter of the spots for paid parking near the golf and tennis courses, swimming pool, and one additional area,” a spokesperson from the mayor’s office tells CultureMap. “Revenues generated would go to park maintenance.”

This summer, parking meters will be installed in the Eastern Glades — the newly planned greenspaces. Metered parking will be $1 for three hours, but, “free parking will still be available throughout the park,” says a spokesperson of the Memorial Park Conservancy. Free parking will be available at more than 550 parking spaces north of Memorial Drive. Golfers should prepare for a $1-per-hour charge in the fall, according to Swamplot.

Funds collected from the parking meters will raise money for the operation and maintenance of the park’s 1,500 acres, according to the conservancy.

While paid parking may be off-putting for locals who’re used to free park access, the move actually stems from an agreement that stipulates that the City of Houston collect fees as part of its requirement to maintain the new-look park, which will feature additional trails, water features, and a stunning new land bridge for humans and animals to ensure safe passage over Memorial Drive.